Welcome to our daily transfer news roundup from across Europe. We are more than halfway through the transfer window and the rumour mills are going haywire. The big news of the day is regarding the future of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
Here are all the transfer news and rumours from 17th January 2017:
Serie A
AC Milan confirm interest in Gerard Deulofeu
Serie A giants AC Milan have confirmed that they are in talks with Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu, however, a deal is yet to be agreed between the two sides. AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani acknowledged it in an interview with Mediaset before adding that the San Siro outfit can only sign the former Barcelona man on a loan deal, with an option to buy.
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He said: “We are talking for Deulofeu, but there is no agreement yet. Everton know full well we can only do loans or with option to buy. Plus there are these pro-Barcelona clauses.”
M’Baye Niang to leave San Siro for Emirates
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal are prepared to launch a bid for AC Milan sensation M’Baye Niang, if superstar Alexis Sanchez leaves the club. The Chilean forward is yet to sign a new contract with the Gunners and has only 18 months left on his present contract. West Ham are also reportedly closely following the 22-year-old.
Bundesliga
Mahmoud Dahoud wanted by AC Milan
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud is wanted by AC Milan. The 21-year-old has also attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund and Juventus and is expected to leave the club in the summer. Dahoud was wanted by Liverpool in the summer.
Schalke defender to join Juventus
Reports in Tuttosport suggest that Juventus are in pole position to complete the signing of Schalke full-back Sead Kolasinac. The left-back was linked with a move to Premier League title hopefuls Liverpool but the Serie A giants are preparing for talks regarding a cut-price deal in the ongoing transfer window. The defender’s contract expires in the summer.
Premier League
Manchester United to sign Antoine Griezmann in the summer
According to The Independent, Manchester United will complete the signing of Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann in the summer. However, the OldTrafford outfit will have to shell out a world record £100m for the transfer of the Frenchman. The Vicente Calderon outfit are looking to bring back Chelsea’s Diego Costa to Spain and should they succeed in their pursuit they will allow Griezmann to leave.
Chelsea want Adama Traore
According to Sky Sports, Premier League title favourites Chelsea have sounded out Middlesbrough regarding the availability of winger Adama Traore. The former Barcelona man joined the newly-promoted outfit from Aston Villa in the summer and has impressed this season.
Liverpool want Domenico Berardi
According to Liverpool Echo, Liverpool are interested in a move for Sassuolo striker Domenico Berardi. It had earlier been reported that the Anfield outfit had sent scouts to watch the Italian striker.
La Liga
Real Madrid make De Gea top summer target
Manchester United shot-stopper David e Gea is Real Madrid top transfer target for the summer transfer window. Los Blancos are worried following the unsteady form displayed by Keylor Navas so far this season and wants to sign the Spaniard in the summer, after failing to do so on the deadline day of the summer transfer window of 2015.
Lionel Messi’s Barcelona future in doldrums
According to Spanish daily Sport, Barcelona are yet to offer superstar Lionel Messi a new contract. The Argentine sensation has only 18 months left on his new contract and has been linked with a move to the Premier League. Further to that, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is yet to meet with Messi’s father, who is also his agent, Jorge Messi.
But the report adds that Messi’s father and the club president have held phone talks and are inclined to agree to a new contract. The first talks are expected to be held in mid-February, opening the window for other clubs test the resolve of the diminutive Argentine.
Rest of the World
Edinson Cavani to extend PSG contract
Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani has admitted that he is set to put pen to paper on a new contract with reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris-Saint Germain. Cavani had recently been linked with many clubs recent, with Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjin showing special interest. The striker’s current contract was due to expire in the summer of 2018.
Speaking to Uruguayan radio station Radio Nacional, he said: “It’s true that I am close to renewing [my contract] with PSG. After long conversations, an agreement has been reached.
"Various aspects, of which my brother has been in charge, have been finalised – I concern myself with playing football. I hope to continue at PSG and to do so with the same desire and the same passion. I hope to achieve great things here.”
Tianjin Quanjin owner admits they wanted Benzema, Cavani, Costa and Falcao
Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Quajin’s owner Shu Yuhui has admitted that the club were looking to sign superstars including Karim Benzema, Edinso Cavani, Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao among others. However, moves for the footballing superstars has hit a snag following a rule change in the Chinese Super League which limits the number of foreign players.
Speaking in an interview with Tianjian TV, Yuhui said: “If [the rule] had been ‘4 +1’ as in the past, then we would have made a big investment this year, but now it seems to be changed to three.
“This situation has brought a change to our signing plans. The online reports about Costa, it’s true we’d like him, and we made an offer for Cavani and were deep in negotiations.
“Mendes came to my home a few days ago and we also had ideas about Costa, but in the process were ready to sign two players, the contracts were done, the price was good – [Mendes clients] Falcao and Raul Jimenez,” added Shu.
“We continue to wait and suffer, but at the end of the day we’ll get someone. We have targeted a lot of strikers, and made an offer for Benzema, but with this policy change, we are very helpless.”
